First, the concerns of the founding fathers of the US to provide protection for the individual from overreaching by the state were never more relevant than now. The unthinking actions of the behemoth which is the modern state can have consequences for the individual which are as dire as conscious oppression. There needs to be protection from the unthinking application of the vast banks of data, which the modern state has available to it. Sadly you cannot assume common sense will prevail.

Second, the manner in which Mr King was treated during confinement shows that dehumanising prisoners can be every bit as cruel as shackles.

And finally, don’t bank on the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to get you out of a jam when you are overseas.